Since the trip is not going to be a fast one, especially at the speeds the warp drive can handle with a tiny fraction of the oversight it usually needs, Kirk decides they can switch off shifts at the important tasks (Helm, Engineering) to deal with things like food and sleep. Everyone urges him to be the first to go, even though he tries to insist someone else take it.

But, convinced, he heads down to the galley in the officer's mess to put together a meal for himself, and maybe bring some sandwhiches and coffee up to the crew who are staying on the bridge. He gets to the kitchen and there's a couple of stewards there who've already got a tray together for him. He thanks them, picks it up... and doubletakes. What are these people doing on the ship that's supposed to be empty, the ship he just flat-out *stole*?

He looks out into the actual mess hall, and there's about a couple dozen people there, dressed in the same mix of uniform and casual garb the bridge crew were sporting. Mostly older people, some of them quite high ranked, some of them clearly past retirement age.

*But he recognizes. Every. Single. One. Of. Them.*

"What... *Why?*" he asks, still holding the tray of sandwhiches.

David Garrovick rose from his seat to answer. He'd been a young Ensign when he'd first come aboard Enterprise, now he had a Lieutenant Commander's pips on his shoulder. He'd been posted to the Saratoga, which had been in dock when they came in.

"Commander Rand put the word out, sir. She said you had a mission... something for Captain Spock."

Janice Rand... his old yeoman. She'd been transferred off the Enterprise a year or so after he took command. "H - how many - ?"

"About seventy, sir. Nowhere near the old girl's prime... but we were all that could get here in time, and could get away from ... other things." Some would have been posted elsewhere, on ships or stations far away. Or retired and living elsewhere. Or simply in too high-profile positions to easily join an escapade like this.

Kirk set down the tray somewhat awkwardly, before he could fumble and drop it. "You... you're all mad," he said, his tone belying the harshness of the words. "You're risking everything... imprisonment, discharge... all for what might well be a madman's dream."

Garrovick shook his head. "You don't believe that any more than we do, Admiral. We all knew that a punitive discharge is the best we can probably look forward to after this... but it's worth it, if somehow Captain Spock.. if we can..."

"I... I understand," Kirk said, tears running down his cheeks, as he looked out to meet the eyes of every being there. Each of them nodded, or smiled, a few even gave him a 'thumbs-up', showing their agreement with Garrovick's words.

"Thank you... thank you all...."

Matrix Dragon, J. Random Nutter

I've had a couple managers like that. Wouldn't even have to ask if I wanted to help.

I've also had ones that I'd laugh in their face if they asked for help.

TechMav
Tygr Labs/Tygr Motors